Oliver: Gallery in the Garden has recipe for summertime fun

Fun in the summertime usually involves a few basic ingredients: an outdoor activity we enjoy and a setting that makes the most of the season. Throw in some tasty food, good music and a few friends, and it gets even better.

Add in an aspect of being able to help others, and for me it becomes one of my favorite events.

The ninth annual Gallery in the Garden, which features local artists and musicians, will take place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at 600 Lawndale Ave. in Woodstock, just a short walk from the Woodstock Square.

Admission is free.

The more than 50 artists who will show and sell their work have donated items for a raffle. All the raffle money, as well as 20 percent of the artists’ profits from sales at the event, will be donated to Court Appointed Special Advocates, which trains volunteers to advocate in court for abused and neglected children. To learn more about CASA, visit www.casamchenrycounty.org.

Available for sale at Gallery in the Garden will be sculpture, jewelry, pottery, glass, photography, illustrations and paintings, among other things.

For a list of the participating artists, visit www.galleryinthegarden.org. There’s also a map on the website and additional information about the event.

The setting is the beautiful gardens of organizers Deb Glaubke and Gale Harris. Their three-quarter-acre lot includes a Japanese meditation garden, ponds and both native and imported plants.

If that weren’t enough, local musicians will perform, adding to the artsy ambiance.

On Saturday, the Kishwaukee Ramblers, who play American and Celtic folk music and children’s songs, will perform from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; singer-songwriter Cassandra Vohs-Demann takes the Lotus stage from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m.; and folk artist Tim Merkel will entertain event-goers from 3 to 5 p.m.

On Sunday, the lineup is finger-style acoustic guitarist Merv Collins from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., musical group Big Fish from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m., and singer-songwriter Ken Johnson from 3 to 5 p.m.

After event-goers have looked around and listened to some great music, they might want to stop and grab a bite to eat. They’re in luck. Flatlander Market of Marengo will sell lunch items, and Jaci’s Cookies should tempt those with a sweet tooth.

Gallery in the Garden also affords art lovers the chance to interact with the artists they support. And it’s beneficial for the artists, too.

In fact, the reason for the event’s creation was to give exposure to artists who might not have a chance to show their work in a public setting, Glaubke said.

For artists who do have their work in galleries, such as Harris, the interaction at events such as Gallery in the Garden adds something more meaningful than just a check in the mail.

“Art is communication, and getting to hear that the message sent is welcomed and received, is the entire point, I think,” Harris said.

So it’s a win-win for everyone. I hope to see you there.

• Joan Oliver is the former Northwest Herald assistant news editor. She has been associated with the Northwest Herald since 1990. She can be reached at jolivercolumn@gmail.com.